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The Best of Trade Secrets 6

£40.00
The April 2005 edition of The Strad saw the first in a new regular section: Trade Secrets, in which violin and bow makers would share the technical tips and tricks that they’d worked out for themselves and wanted to share with their peers. Almost two decades later, Trade Secrets is still a mainstay of the magazine, having featured over 200 fully illustrated parts of the making process penned by more than 140 makers around the world. This latest collection brings together 35 of the most recent articles, drawn from the magazine’s pages since the pandemic year of 2020.

The Best of Trade Secrets 5

£40.00
Necks, scrolls, f-holes, arching, edgework, inlay, tools, set-up - this new compilation covers more topics than ever before.  

The Best of Trade Secrets

£35.00
Ever since its beginnings in 2006, Trade Secrets has been The Strad’s most popular section for instrument makers. Luthiers from

The Best of Trade Secrets 4

£35.00
The latest collection of articles from The Strad's popular Trade Secrets section brings together methods for everything from reinforcing a cello neck to making lake pigments for varnish.

The Best of Trade Secrets 3

£35.00
Written by luthiers for luthiers, this third compilation of articles from The Strad’s popular Trade Secrets section brings together over

Folded Poster Tailored Bundle

£9.99
FOLDED VERSIONS Choose any two or more of The Strad's folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here  

The Best of Trade Secrets 2

£35.00
Following the huge success of the first volume of The Best of Trade Secrets, the second appeared in 2012. Like

Antonio Stradivari ‘Messiah’ violin 1716 poster

£22.95
Stradivari’s 1716 ‘Messiah’ violin is one of the most coveted in the world. The pristine condition of the instrument, made during his ‘golden period’ and barely played since then, offers unique insights into the mind of the great master. This poster will be an excellent resource for anyone trying to replicate such a violin. Includes measurements. 'The ‘Messiah’ was as exceptional to Stradivari as it is to us. And this ‘apartness’ was as obvious to his sons, and even the Bergonzis who lived on in the Casa Stradivari, making and selling new instruments as well as salvaging and finishing partly completed work for a good 20 years after Antonio’s death.’ – John Dilworth in the March 2011 issue of The Strad Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today. ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

Antonio Stradivari ‘Boissier, Sarasate’ violin 1713 poster

£22.95

Made during Antonio's Stradivari's so-called 'golden period', the 1713 'Boissier, Sarasate' is in an excellent state of preservation. Housed in the museum of the Madrid Royal Conservatoire, it has rarely been played since it was left to the music school by its last owner, the Spanish virtuoso Pablo Sarasate. This poster includes full outlines and measurements taken from a state-of-the-art 3D scan of the instrument.

'The surface retains a very good amount of varnish. It is remarkable that it has not been ‘protected’ with a layer of French polish, making it ever more outstanding and appreciated in today’s shop standards. The colour of the varnish is a light reddish-brown over Stradivari’s wonderful golden ground.' – Roberto Jardón Rico in the January 2024 issue of The Strad

Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.

***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

‘Vieuxtemps’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ 1741 poster

£22.95
Currently the most expensive violin in the world, the 1741 'Vieuxtemps' Guarneri 'del Gesù' was sold in 2012 for a sum in excess of $16 million. It has been given on lifetime loan to US violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. Among its illustrious former players was Henri Vieuxtemps; at his funeral it was carried behind the hearse on a velvet cushion, by fellow violinist Eugène Ysaÿe. As well as full measurements, the back of this poster contains detailed CT scans, thickness maps and actual-size cross-sections of the archings. The violin still remains in a remarkable state of preservation, especially considering it has been in use for most of its life. 'The violin has a colossal range. I found I could play the entire repertoire, from Vivaldi to Sibelius to modern works, just on this one violin. It feels as though there’s colour in my fingertips' – Anne Akiko Meyers in the June 2018 edition of The Strad Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today. ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

Great Instruments

£25.00
***BACK IN STOCK!*** Every generation of violin makers has sought to analyse and understand the classic forms, and, for the past 122 years, the violin world's leading experts have assessed the latest research into the finest instruments in the pages of The Strad. Great Instruments includes 15 authoritative and beautifully illustrated articles from the past ten years, which provide unique insights into some of the world's most celebrated stringed instruments. Full list of featured instruments
  1. c.1566 Andrea Amati Violin
  2. c.1600 Brothers Amati Cello
  3. 1619 Henry Jaye Viol
  4. c.1650 Jacob Stainer Tenor viola
  5. 1709 Antonio Stradivari 'Viotti' violin
  6. 1715 Antonio Stradivari 'Titian' violin
  7. 1716 Antonio Stradivari 'Messiah' violin
  8. 1717 Domenico Montagnana Violin
  9. 1717 Pietro Giacomo Rogeri Cello
  10. 1721 Antonio Stradivari 'Kruse' violin
  11. 1735 Guarneri 'del Gesu' 'Plowden' violin
  12. 1736 Carlo Bergonzi Violin
  13. 1736 Guarneri 'del Gesu 'Cessole', 'Teja-Ferni'
  14. 1740 Domenico Montagnana Cello
  15. 1808 Niclas Lupot Violin

Antonio Stradivari ‘King Carlos IV’ violin 1709 poster

£22.95

The ‘King Carlos IV’ is one of the few instruments remaining from the collection of the Spanish king, who ruled from 1788 to 1808. Made during Stradivari’s ‘golden period’, it is one of the rare examples that is so well preserved that its sound is seldom matched by other violins of the era. The maple back has deep, wide flames descending slightly, which shimmer like water in the light. The scroll is incredibly round and bold, displaying an ultimate strength in making.

Florian Leonhard examines its history and present condition in The Strad magazine July 2023
Read the review in The Strad, June 2023 ***Don’t miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***  

G.B. Guadagnini ‘Cozio’ viola 1773 poster

£22.95
This viola is one of the first to be made by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini during his ‘Turin period’, which saw the crafting of some of his finest works. His regular income from Count Cozio di Salabue gave him greater freedom to experiment, as evidenced by this small-size viola with high-set f-holes and enlarged centre bouts. With a back length of 400mm, it has wide, full arching and a brilliant yellow-orange varnish. The poster includes high-definition CT scans as well as full measurements. 'The workmanship of the viola is of great quality and care: the archings are perfectly cut and finished, the interior appears to be in an excellent state of conservation, and it bears a number of the maker's marks' - Alberto Giordano in the January 2022 issue Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

Antonio Stradivari ‘Boissier, Sarasate’ Violin 1713 poster – FOLDED VERSION

£14.95
FOLDED VERSION Made during Antonio's Stradivari's so-called 'golden period', the 1713 'Boissier, Sarasate' is in an excellent state of preservation. Housed in the museum of the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid, it has rarely been played since it was left to the conservatoire by its last owner, the Spanish virtuoso Pablo Sarasate. This poster includes full outlines and measurements taken from a state-of-the-art 3D scan of the instrument. 'The surface retains a very good amount of varnish. It is remarkable that it has not been ‘protected’ with a layer of French polish, making it ever more outstanding and appreciated in today’s shop standards. The colour of the varnish is a light reddish-brown over Stradivari’s wonderful golden ground.' – Roberto Jardón Rico in the January 2024 issue of The Strad ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

BUNDLE – The Best of Trade Secrets 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

£140.00

Bundle contains:

  • 1 x The Best of Trade Secrets
  • 1 x The Best of Trade Secrets 2
  • 1 x The Best of Trade Secrets 3
  • 1 x The Best of Trade Secrets 4
  • 1 x The Best of Trade Secrets 5

‘De Munck’ Stradivari cello 1730 poster

£22.95
This well-presented cello played by Emanuel Feuermann and Steven Isserlis is striking for the originality that created a new cello form. It is currently on loan to Danjulo Ishizaka. Includes full measurements. 'The marvellous "de Munck" is striking in the originality of its slender form. The dominant feature is the large centre bouts, which curve in as deeply as those of the larger B form and are in fact slightly longer' – John Dilworth in the June 2000 issue of The Strad Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today. ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

Antonio Stradivari ‘Saveuse’ cello 1726 poster

£22.95
The 1726 'Saveuse' is one of the smallest cellos ever to come out of Antonio Stradivari's workshop. From the beautifully carved scroll to the smouldering, rich maroon colour of the varnish, the instrument displays the finest characteristics of the luthier's late period. It remains in almost perfect condition and provides a fascinating insight into the mind of Stradivari the innovator. This poster will be an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn from the master. Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today. ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ ‘Plowden’ violin 1735 poster

£22.95
One of the finest and most acclaimed ‘del Gesù’ instruments in existence, the ‘Plowden’ is striking in its vivid freshness and particularly notable for the intense orange–red varnish on its stunning one-piece back. Includes scans and measurements. 'The ‘Plowden’ gives an outsize impression that defies its rather petite dimensions. Several factors combine to create this effect: the very broad-flamed maple back, the substantial thickness of the purfling, the wide-grained top, back arching that quickly rises from the relatively shallow channel, the open f-holes and, above all, the plentiful red varnish that lies with an almost sculptural effect over the undulating flames of the back.’ – Sam Zygmuntowicz in the July 2011 issue of The Strad Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today. ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

Returned or Flawed Posters

£7.50
We have a number of rolled posters that have been returned or have minor defects, which can be obtained at a massively discounted cost. These are ideal for students or makers who do not require pristine posters to work from. Although some posters are damaged, this is usually to the sides of the posters and not across the printed images. These posters are limited. Please contact us directly if the poster you require is not on our list: services@thestradshop.com
For new, undamaged rolled and folded posters, click here or see individual poster links below: Antonio Stradivari ‘King Carlos IV’ violin 1709 poster ‘Vieuxtemps’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ 1741 poster G.B. Guadagnini ‘Cozio’ viola 1773 poster Antonio Stradivari ‘Archinto’ viola 1696 poster Antonio Stradivari ‘Huberman’ violin 1713 poster Carlo Bergonzi ‘Baron Knoop’ violin 1735 poster Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ ‘Plowden’ violin 1735 poster Antonio Stradivari ‘Saveuse’ cello 1726 poster     For our Tailored Folded Poster Bundle, click here

Our rolled posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.

Antonio Stradivari ‘Archinto’ viola 1696 poster

£22.95
By popular demand, The Strad is republishing one of its most sought-after posters - the 1696 'Archinto' Stradivari viola - with brand new photography that brings out the colours and craftsmanship like never before. One of the treasures of London's Royal Academy of Music, the 'Archinto' provides a model for luthiers to admire and copy even in the 21st century. 'The 1696 Stradivari ‘Archinto’ viola is one of the most beautiful instruments in the world. It was made at a very felicitous time, just as the great master’s red varnish was reaching perfection and his designs — encapsulated in the gorgeous long pattern violins — were at their most elegant... The tone is archetypal Stradivari; clear and pure across all the strings, with a quick response and good articulation. In the hands of a great player it provides a wide range of tone colour. In contrast to the typically Brescian sound, it is more violin-like in quality and reveals a slight lack of potency in the lowest string.' - John Dilworth in the June 1996 issue Includes measurements, thickness and arching maps. Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today. ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

‘Kreisler’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin 1733 poster

£22.95
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.

In Focus 2

£40.00
The Strad ’s second compilation of fascinating articles, written within the last 5 years, brings together fine instruments by some of the world’s greatest instrument experts. In this new anthology, every instrument has been given three pages to include more close-up photographs, archings, angles and tiny details.

Antonio Stradivari ‘Huberman’ violin 1713 poster

£22.95
This stunning instrument from Stradivari’s golden period has sleek, taut arching, lithe and slender corners, and a bubbled texture to the plum-red varnish. It was played by Bronislaw Huberman until 1936 until it was notoriously stolen from his dressing room at Carnegie Hall. Fifty years later it was recovered, and is now the property of US soloist Joshua Bell. Includes scans and measurements. 'The scroll is made of typical fine-grained maple, with only minimal figure, allowing for very fluid carving. The profile is sleek, with a graceful oval head, slender pegbox, and narrow throat, echoed in the tight cutting into the eye' – Sam Zygmuntowicz in the November 2013 issue of The Strad Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today. ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

Antonio Stradivari ‘Titian’ violin 1715 poster

£22.95
The 'Titian' Stradivari of 1715 has long been counted among the finest violins of the maker's golden period. It has revealed itself to be a formidable concert instrument of unusual power and scope, remarkable for its focus and resilience under the bow. The violin was dubbed 'Titian' by the French dealer Albert Caressa because of its clear orange–red colour, which reminded him of the work of the famous Venetian painter. Includes photographs, scans and measurements. ‘On first look, the violin seems strong and solid, with its smoothly worn patina, sturdy arching and edgework, and immaculate finishing with virtually no visible trace of the hand – all is pure architecture, with the execution almost completely subsumed. The patina shows careful use, with the edges rounded and the varnish smoothed to a luminous film.’ – Sam Zygmuntowicz in the February 2009 issue of The Strad Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today. ***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***

Available from our third-party merchants

An Introduction to the Old Italian Violins (simplified mandarin)

£170.00
The book offers an overview of 300 years of violin history. Exploring the historical circumstances in Northern Italy, namely the city of Cremona, where the violin originated, it takes the reader from Andrea Amati's workshop to those of the most famous Cremonese violin makers such as Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù and Carlo Bergonzi. From there violin making spread across other Italian and European cities. Illustrated with more than 600 pictures of instruments, the book is a unique guide to the complex world of violin family instruments; it provides valuable advice on how to choose the best violin, and how to take care of it.

Antonius Stradivarius Volumes I-VIII (Edited by Jost Thöne)

£3,950.00
Sold by: Jost Thöne
This eight volume Library Edition is limited to 2.000 copies. Complete with slipcase and DVD. “Taken together, these eight volumes are a massive achievement, a substantial reset of the standards and quality of documentation, and a valuable contribution to our understanding of the work of the greatest violin maker who ever lived. This is above all a brave project, given the value and importance of these instruments and their often sensitive histories and attributions.” John Dilworth, The Strad March 2017

Antonius Stradivarius Volumes I-VIII (Edited by Jost Thöne) – De Luxe Edition

£17,457.00
Sold by: Jost Thöne
This beautiful De Luxe Edition is an investment of a lifetime. Limited to 100 copies, it is leather-bound with gilt edges; the volumes are individually numbered and registered. “Taken together, these eight volumes are a massive achievement, a substantial reset of the standards and quality of documentation, and a valuable contribution to our understanding of the work of the greatest violin maker who ever lived. This is above all a brave project, given the value and importance of these instruments and their often sensitive histories and attributions.” John Dilworth, The Strad March 2017

Cello by William Pleeth

£19.95
Foreword by Jacqueline du Pré

Contemporary Violin Makers

£325.00
Sold by: Jost Thöne
This publication is designed to share rare insight into the world of contemporary violin-making. Two magnificent volumes offering a full

FÜSSEN LUTE AND VIOLIN MAKING by Josef Focht, Klaus Martius, Thomas Riedmiller

A captivating book with excellent reviews set in the Early Modern Era, when lute making in Füssen played a decisive role in influencing the production of stringed instruments in larger parts of Europe. This was possible because town of Füssen settled on one of the most important trading routes across the Alps. The town had access to valuable and unusual wood types on the northern edge of the Alps for which instrument makers gravitated to capture the heart of their sounds.   Read the review, The Strad, July 2019

Italian and French Violin Makers, Volume I-IV

£1,275.00£2,245.00
Sold by: Jost Thöne
A unique collection of instruments crafted by the legendary lutherie masters of the last four centuries from Italy and France. The Library Edition is limited to 2.000 copies, the leather-bound De Luxe Edition to 100 copies; each volume is individually numbered and registered.

Jean Baptiste Vuillaume

£230.00
Sold by: Jost Thöne
This splendid volume of different instruments built by the celebrated French master violin-maker Jean Baptiste Vuillaume, includes models by Stradivari,

Jean Pierre Marie Persoit: His Life and Work, by Paul Childs

£105.00
“The great and intriguing bow maker, Jean Pierre Marie Persoit, has for many years been an inspiration to other bowmakers

JOANNES BAPTISTA GUADAGNINI FECIT PARMAE SERVIENS C.S.R.

£315.00
Masterpieces from the 2011 Parma Galleria Nazionale Exhibition

Listening through the lens by Christopher Nupen (with sampler DVD)

£30.00
The official autobiography from BAFTA award-winning film maker, Christopher Nupen, director of The Trout - one of the most watched classical music films. Foreword by Vladimir Ashkenazy Read the review, The Strad, January 2020

Monograph of the Antonio Stradivari Cello c.1690 ‘Barjansky’

£790.00£1,490.00
Sold by: Jost Thöne

Probably the most extensive and detailed study of a stringed instrument that has ever been published

  Read the review, The Strad July 2021

My Viola and I by Lionel Tertis

£19.95
My Viola and I explores the history of the viola and music making during the late nineteenth century and early

Questionario Renzo Bacchetta del 1936

£125.00
Sold by: Luca Bastiani
59 Italian Luthiers Tell Their Story Through the Answers to the 1936 Renzo Bacchetta Survey, where they started to learn their craft and how they learned it. Including: Historical introduction Complete transcriptions of the surveys Complete translations of the surveys in English 43 labels conserved in the Fondo Renzo Bacchetta 59 pages of photographic details of the original documents showing the handwriting and signature of the maker Hard cover 238 pages Published in 2021, presented online with the patronage of the state library of Cremona. Price excluding VAT where present and import taxes. Read the review in The Strad, January 2020

The Bowmakers of the Peccatte Family, by Paul Childs

£199.00
This rare book details the lives, histories, styles and influences of the Peccatte family with special chapters on Dominque, Francois

The English Double Bass

£465.00
A unique leather-bound, limited-edition book exploring the fine double basses made in England - £465 plus P&P The ultimate collector’s investment for anyone with an interest in fine double basses, The English Double Bass is the authoritative work on double basses made in England. Featuring 766 stunning colour photographs of 100 double basses by 40 of England’s great double bass makers, this 524-page book is a collector’s item. The authors have gathered a rare collection of double basses never seen before and presented them in a beautiful leather-bound case. ISBN: 978-1-916-4053-0-1   Read the review in The Strad, May 2019

The Essential Handbook for Violinists’ by Rebecca Houghton

£20.00
Sold by: Viva Violins
Violin maker and restorer Rebecca Houghton wrote this book as a gift to players, teachers and parents who need essential

The Fulton Collection: A Guided Tour by David Fulton

£120.00
1st edition volume featuring large-format linen-bound hardcover, high quality photos and never-before-seen archival material including excerpts from “The Hill Diaries” and “Alfred Hill Notes.”

The Golden Age of Violin Making in Spain

£485.00
Edited by leading expert Jorge Pozas, this magnificent (and rare) title features a collection of 50 of the greatest Spanish

Tourte Le Jeune (The Tourte Exhibition of London, November 2008)

£99.00
Celebrating the life and work of François Xavier Tourte from the 1st through the 30th of November, 2008 at London’s

Valentin Berlinsky – A Quartet for Life by Maria Matalaev

£19.95
The compiled memoirs of Valentin Berlinsky, cellist with the Borodin Quartet for more than six decades. Foreword by Steven Isserlis   Read the review, The Strad, June 2019

Violin & Viola by Yehudi Menuhin and William Primrose

£19.95
Yehudi Menuhin was indisputably one of the finest violinists of all time, with a technique that was the envy of

Violin and Bow Makers, Volume 1

£40.00
Sold by: Jost Thöne
Featuring forty full-colour pages of instruments and bows from significant violin- and bow-makers from across Europe.

W.E. Hill & Sons Violin Makers 1880-1936, by John Basford and Tim Toft

£95.00£275.00
W.E. Hill and Sons was Britain’s most important violin dealership in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and, during this period, became renowned throughout the world for its expertise in instrument identification and repair. This new book gives a clear photographic and documentary record of instrument making at W.E Hill and Sons, from its inception in the early 1880s to 1936, when the first phase of production ended and the last instrument from that first phase of production was recorded in the original sales ledger.   Read the review, The Strad, May 2020

If you would like to become a third-party merchant on The Strad Shop, please contact Gavin Saunders